The British actor tells THR what’s different –- and what's the same -- about his current role as Norse demigod Loki, and his upcoming one in Jim Jarmusch's vampire-themed love story.

Tom Hiddleston may have made his American breakthrough as a villain in a superhero movie, the comic book adaptation Thor, but he isn’t sitting around waiting for the next opportunity to strap on more spandex. Following The Avengers, Hiddleston is set to appear in writer-director Jim Jarmusch’s latest film, Only Lovers Left Alive, which he describes as “a love story.”

“I won’t be destroying Manhattan for Jim Jarmusch, that’s for sure,” Hiddleston told THR Saturday. “It’s about what happens between a man and a woman and all of the sort of tenderness and complexity of that engagement.” The film focuses on two lovers -- who are vampires -- who maintain a relationship across several centuries. Tilda Swinton co-stars.

Eager to demonstrate his talent and versatility, Hiddleston also made a memorable impression in Steven Spielberg’s War Horse playing a soldier who briefly cares for the title character before riding him into battle. Although he acknowledges the obvious differences in playing, say, a demigod and a more conventional romantic lead, even in what promises to be an unconventional film, Hiddleston said that the end result is always pretty much the same for him.

“That in a way really will be quite different from this,” he said. “I don’t think Loki’s attitude to women is particularly healthy or tender. But the gold standard has to be honesty and psychological reality and naturalness and depth. Even if you’re playing this crazy, anarchic demon with a horned helmet, it still has to have a foundation in the truth.”

Watch the video above for more comments by Hiddleston about his current character, Loki, and his future one in Only Lovers Left Alive. The Avengers opens nationwide May 4, 2012.